OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2694, 27 December 1909, Page 2

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

AMERICA CERTAIN TO BUY MORE COLONIAL WOOL.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) IiitADFORD, Nov. 12. ! Tho vegetable fibre question, of which wc have heard so much during the past two years, is not yet dead. Tnis matter has again been to the front during the last two weeks, it being discussed last week at a meeting or the mill managers of tho West Riding. No new light was thrown on the suoject, although it was generally felt that the best tiling to do was to uphold the findings or the Vegetable Fibre Cornmittoe. in London, mid stand by their decision. They heartily approved, of the benefits to be derived from using paper-lined tares, and, if I remember right, they favored the idea of buyers going half with the grower in providing a superior pack. This is exactly the crux of the whole question. Repeatedly it has been stated on this side that if buyers of wool would only share some responibility incurred in providing batter jute bale, then the difficulty could be solved in a season, but the leading spirits of tho Vegetable Fibre Commit, tee maintain that it is tho producers’ business to send his ware to market in the best manner possible, just at they do tops, yarns, and pieces. Hemp in wool is a curse, and always will be, and it would save endless trouble and bother if it could be minimised and abolished. Nobody knows the curse it is only those who are working in mills all the year round, and to see pieces come over the perching board with dozens of small pieces of jut© fibre all to be burled out, cannot but ruffle the tempers of the manufacturers besides increasing the cost of production. They have no business there, and if long strings of jute did not get entangled with the wool, then it would save the trouble spoken about. AN AMERICAN COMPLAINT. The same difficulty, at least to some extent, occurs in America among its domestic woolgrowers, as occurs in England. What is known as the sisal twine evil is the bone of contention between American buyers of wool and their own sheep farmers. United States woolgrowers will persist in tying their fleeces in spring with loose, fluffy sisal binder twine. The Manufacturers’ Association have this last twelve months given a very strong note of warning that they will refuse to buy farmers’ clips so tied up, but when trade is good and wool wanted, such threats count for little. After scouring the country for domestic fleeces, there is again a note of warning sounded, much loss being entailed on account of vegetable fibre finding its way into tho finished fabric. The following quotation from a leading authority is of unusual significance to growers of wool in tho colonies and South' America: “As a result of this new phase of the situation, an increasing umber of manufacturers have placed a ban on domestic fleece wools. The fact that similar foreign wools have been for several months relatively cheaper than domestic fleece has undoubtedly been" a factor stipulating such action. The superior get-up, smaller noilage, and generally better working qualities or foreign wools naturally cause manufacturers, who are accustomed to use the latter, to give them the preference. The present rapid growth of the domestic worsted industry is forcing ah increased use of foreign wools, and it will only ho a short time before every manufacturer in tho country must become so well acquainted with the handling of foreign wools that they will bo able to shift quickly from domestic to foreign, or vice versa. This moans tho time lias arrived when, despite the advantages of a highly protective tariff, fleece wool growers must either give more careful attention to the growth and preparation of their wool for market, or must bo satisfied to witness a steadily decreasing demand for their wools, at as steadily receding prices.” A WELCOME ADVANCE. Tho above paragraph cannot but be welcome to every _ pastoral reader throughout Australasia, the Capo, and South America. It is only another jway of saying that we must have the foreign grown article, and this is exactly what I have maintained for tho past two years. _ When the Dingley tariff was effected’in 1897, and an import duty,levied of sid per lb on greasy wool, 'American " shoepbroeders • were ;hoodwinked with the plausible statement that such a protective duty would keep, out tho Australian, South American, and English grown article, but I said over and over again that ho was a very short sighted person who believed such twaddle and nonsense. Of course, behind the high .tariff barrier United States sheep breeders were going to grow all the wool roquired by their own manufacturers, hut no such thing has ever obtained, and never will. In 1903 the number of sheep depastured in tho United States was the highest over roturned, hut the official figures had host he consulted by the reader himself. Tho following is the number of sheep in the United States sinco 1902, tho figures being official; Year. Number 1902 62,039,091. 1903 63,964,876 1904 61,630,144 • 1905 45,170,423 1906 50,631,619 1907 53,240,282 ’ • 1908 54,631,000 1909 , 56,084,000

MOKE COLONIAL WOOL NEEDED. The above quotation is very significant in view or the approaching season tor,•‘‘new clip” wools rrom Australasia, South Africa, and South America. 1 To be told that ‘‘it will bo only a short time before every manufacturer in the country must become so well acquainted with the handhng of foreign wools”, is highly encouraging, and it is coming to what I said it would as far back as 1098. The ‘‘free wool” Wilson tariff which existed between 1895 and 1897 gave American manufacturers such a glorious taste of the ability of Australian merinos and New Zealand, South American and English' crossbreds to produce perfect clot As that consumption must steadily advance as United States manufacturers become, more perfect in the art and science of fabric production Every year since then has seen an expanding consumption of foreign grown wools; and the presence in London and Australia of American buyers in larger forces proves the correctness of my prognostication. The fact is, American manufacturers can no more do without Australasian wools than bricks can be inade without clay. Last year saw record purchases made in this country and Australia, and I fancy this year with booming textile conditions more wool than ever will be purchased outside the United States. Business everywhere seems to be good across the Atlantic, and to improve the manufacturing properties of their own domestic fleeces, both Australian merinos and New Zealand crossbreds as well as River Plato wools f will be bought in increasing quantities. The merinos grown in South Africa would also come in for a fair share of their patronage if they were longer in staple and lighter in condition, but so long as they shrink in tho majority of cases over 60 pen cent, they will never ho bought for America. A few clips from the Western Province and Ivaffraria are puchased, but generally speaking they are not sufficiently light in condition. A TURN FOR THE BETTER.

The situation this week shows an important change compared with a week ago, and instead of importers trying to depress prices, they have turned round, and. are now presenting a decidedly firmer front, and asking fractional advances. Really speaking this is the result* of outside forces, and more particularly because of the free sale of tops for next year’s delivery, combined with slightlv hardening markets in Australia. The. end has arrived of the recent “bear” move, and it seems as if we were now in for a period of settled settled price.?. Nobody in Bradford wants to see a higher range of values, preferring to go on with reasonable rates, and so encourage a continuance of good trade. There has been done a good deal of quiet buying, and some big weights of raw material have been contracted for which necessitates tho same being covered in Australia and elsewhere. There is no doubt that the turn lias come somewhat quicker than the majority expected, and users have thought it policy to cover for tho earlier months of next year seeing that wool is selling so freely at tho sources of supply. No doubt importers have helped things on somewhat by their persistent ‘‘hull’’ arguments, and consumption still being largo, and the prospect of limited supplies in London at the approaching series, has helped to stimulate activity on the part of spinners. There lias been most buying done in merinos, some big weights bavin g been contracted for at 25d and 26d for super 60’s and 64’s tops respectively. Thero continues to be done a quiet steady trade for spot delivery in merinos, and it has to be a very good top to command more than 26d for supers. Since the free purchases for next year, topmakers are now wanting Jd and }d more, but we cannot hear tell of these advantages being actually made. The way woo] is selling in Australia is a sure indication of the healthiness of trade in manufacturing centres, and no doubt there is a big consumption proceeding. There is a shade more doing in crossbreds, and prices display a slightly hardening tendency. It should he remembered that 40’s have lost ground since the last London sales, though several topmakers will not sell to-day at what they would a fortnight ago. There is more trade doing in 46’s 50’s, and 56’s tops, stocks all being very light. Mohair is steady and firm, with not a big new business doing. Spinners are as busy as over they can bo, and, taking things as a whole, conditions are sound and healthy.